Driving In Your Own
Driving in Bali is not for the faint-hearted. Vehicles and creatures
of every size, shape and description charge onto the road out
of nowhere. The traffic is horrendous on the main highways. Drive
slowly and carefully and beware of the trucks at night. Road construction
sites are not marked and few cyclists have reflectors. The condition
of road networks has considerably improved in recent years, however,
and driving off the beaten track is one of the best ways to discover
Bali. Check your fuel gauge regularly as there are few gas stations
away from the main roads. Small roadside fuel shops, indicated
by a "Premium" sign, sell gasoline for the bit more
than the Pertamina stations.
A valid international license is required for driving cars and
motorbikes. If you do not have one, you can get a provisional
license at the local Polres (police headquarters) on the road
between Denpasar and Kerobokan. Insurance is not compulsory, but
strongly recommended. You can get a policy from most of the rental
companies and travel agents.
Renting vehicles is very cheap. Small Suzuki Jimny jeeps and larger
Toyota Kijang are available for a daily rate between $20 and $30.
Discounts are available during the off-season and for longer periods.
Drivers are usually available for an additional $5 a day. Check
the condition of the car before signing the contract. Beware:
vehicles are usually rented with an empty tank.
There are rental car companies at almost every, street comer of
the main resorts. More important than the agency you rent from
is to check and test-drive the car before renting. A selection:
• Bali Bahagia Rent Car JI. Raya Kuta 72X, Kuta.
• Khairusan Rent Car, JI. Kartika Plaza, Kuta.
• Nyoman's Car Rental Jl. Sanur Beh, Sanur.
• Nusa Dua Rent a Car, JI. Pantai Mengiat 23, Nusa Dua.
• Puri Sarana, JI. Pratama 70, Tanjung Benoa.
• Putra Intan Rent Car, JI. Bypass Ngurah Rai (in front
of Tragia), Nusa Dua.
• Toyota Rent a Car, at the Ngurah Rai Airport, JI. Raya
Airport 99X, in the Bali Padma Hotel in Legian, and in the Kartika
Plaza Hotel in Tuban.
Motorbike Hire
Motorcycling used to be the best way to travel on Bali but with
the increase in traffic it has lost many of its charms and become
increasingly dangerous. Be careful and stick to the back roads.
There are several Cooperatives (BAKOR) which rent bikes in Denpasar,
Kuta and Sanur, but bike rentals are usually handled through car
hire companies or on a person to person basis. The price is usually
$5-$7 a day, lowering to $60-$70 a month, including near-useless
crash helmet. Check the bike over carefully before renting it-you
are likely to be charged for repairs.
Make sure you have the registration papers, in case you are stopped
by the police. Also ensure you have good accident insurance covering
emergency air transportation home or to Singapore in case of a
serious accident. Several tourist casualties occur each month.
Insurance sold at time of rental normally covers damages or loss
of the bike, with a minimal deductible. |
